A Primer to Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Some Seemingly Contradictions

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” - II Timothy 2:15

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” – Nehemiah 8:8

Have you ever considered why different churches disagree on many of the major doctrines, yet most of the churches use the bible to prove their own doctrinal beliefs? Have you ever wondered why today's Christians can eat pork even though in the Old Testament men were forbidden to do so? Or, do you know people (or, perhaps yourself) who shun Christianity because Christians can't seem to agree on anything?

These are all valid concerns, but when a person begins to "rightly divide" the word of truth, as admonished by Paul to Timothy, these seeming difficulties and disputations are resolved. To "rightly divide" means that God has dealt with mankind at different times with different expectations from him. Although it is profitable for us to read the entire Bible (2Tim.3:16), it is imperative that we understand which part of the Bible is intended primarily for us in this time of Grace. For example, if I should step inside a modern Philippine Post Office all would doubtless seem very confusing to me. But it would be a mistake to suggest piling all the mail neatly into one corner and handing it out promiscuously to all comers as some would do with the Bible. The postal employees must rightly divide the mail so that each person receives what is addressed to him. What seems like confusion to the novice is really a simplification of the work to be done in getting each person's private mail to him.

It is granted that in the Bible even that which was addressed to those of other dispensations is given to us for our learning and profit, but we must not confuse this with our own private mail or make the mistake of carrying out instructions meant particularly for others. While I am reading mail addressed personally to me, a friend may hand me, for my interest or information, mail addressed to him. His mail and mine may all prove informative and profitable, but I must still be careful not to confuse the two, expecting to receive things promised to him or carrying out instructions addressed to him. Thus, all the Bible is for us, but it is not all addressed to us or written about us, and if we would really understand and enjoy it; if we would really know how to use it effectively in service for Christ, we must be careful always to note who is addressing whom, about what and when and why.

When we approach the scripture it is needful for everyone to know whose mail is it. You must remember that the entire bible is FOR us but not all of it is WRITTEN TO us. Some are to the Jews, Gentiles, and to the Church of God (saints) – I Corinthian 10:32. There are different divisions, distinctions, and differences in scripture pertaining to each group, which cannot be mixed.

Not every commandment in the bible is directed to us who lived in the church age. We cannot, and should not follow, or to attempt to follow every commandment given in the scriptures. Consider these verses: Gen. 6:14, Gen. 12:1-5, Lev. 4:20.

The Bible is divided into groupings based on different dispensations, and based upon the group of people to whom God is speaking. Sometimes you can find in the Bible that some are for…

• The Jews under the law

• The Gentiles

• The Christian living today ( Church of God)

• The Tribulation saints

• The person living in the Millennium

That’s why some men concluded that the Bible is confusing, contradicting, and with errors, because they claim that the entire bible is written to them, and because they make the Bible say whatever they want it to say. You can make the Bible say whatever you want it to say, by simply ignoring the context. If you will do that, you will come up into a conclusion that the Bible is inconsistent and contradictory, which certainly not.

Ask these questions every time you study God's word:

• Who wrote it?

• When was it written?

• Whom was it written to?

• What is the passage about?

Again, the whole Bible is for our learning and admonition it is not all to us and about us.

Consider these apparent contradictory teaching made by various churches, using the scripture to prove their particular position:

• Matthew 5:9, 22, 44-45, 24:13

• Luke 18:18-22

• Acts 2:38

• Hebrews 3:6, 3:14, 6:4-5, 10:26-31, 12:14-15

• James 2:24, 5:1-5, 14-15

• Revelation 2:7, 11, 3:5, 12:17, 13:7, 14:9-12

False teaching in various cults, Christian churches, and other apostate Baptist quoted these verses for their doctrinal stand. They are misled with errors with their beliefs because they are not careful enough in handling the scriptures.

However, the Bible is not contradictory, and without any mixture of error! It is all truth and nothing but the truth. To those people who said that there is something wrong with the bible, no there is none! But there must be something wrong with their mind. The missing element concerning this matter is the Scripture rightly divided!

Now, let’s try to reconcile scriptures with supposed contradictions:

Now observe these two doctrinal categories. They seem to be contradicting but they are not. All we have to do is to place them to whom they are written to, and to place them in its proper dispensational period. In other words, is to rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15).

• An EYE for an EYE- (Ex. 21:23) vs. Living Peaceably – ( Rom. 12:17)

• Salvation through works- ( Luke 18:18-22) vs. Salvation by Grace through faith alone. (Eph. 2:8-9)

• Salvation for the Jews – (Matt. 10:5, 15:24) vs. Salvation for the Gentiles – (Rom. 1:16, 2 Tim. 1:11)

• The gospel of the Kingdom (Mtt. 3:1, 4:17, 9:35, 10:5) vs. The gospel of the Grace of God ( I Cor. 1:17-18, 15:1-3, Eph. 3:1, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 1:11)

• Tithing ( Mal. 3:8-12, Lev. 27: 30-32) vs. Grace giving (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

• Forgiveness of sins (on going act)- (Mtt. 6:14) vs. Sins forgiven (past)-Eph. 4:32

• Backsliders without Forgiveness (no second chances)- Heb. 6:14 vs. Restoration of Backsliders – (Gal. 6:1)

• Losing Salvation (Mtt. 24:13, Heb. 10:26) vs. Eternal Security (Rom. 8:1, 35)

• Conditional Security (Heb. 3:6,14) vs. Unconditional Security(Eph. 3:6)

• Baptism for Salvation (Acts 2:38) vs. Baptism as picture for Salvation (Col. 2:11-12)

• Losing the Spirit of God (I Sam. 16:13-14, Psalm 51:10) vs. Sealed by the Spirit of God until redemption (Eph. 1:13, 4:30)

• The Just shall live by his faith (Hab. 2:4) vs. The Just shall live by faith (of Christ) – Rom. 1:17

• In the hand of God (Jn. 10:28) vs. Being the hand of God (Eph. 5:30)

• Circumcision (Genesis 17:9) vs. Uncircumcision (Galatians 5:6, 6:15)

• Many sacrifices needed vs. One sacrifice needed (Heb. 10:10-12)

• Righteousness which is of the law (Rom. 10:5) vs. Righteousness which is of faith (Rom. 10:6)

• Grace needed to be found (Gen. 6:8, 19:19, Ex. 33: 12,13) vs. Grace aboundeth (Rom.5:20)

• Sins covered (Psalm 32:1, Heb. 10:4, 9:22) vs. Sins removed (John 1:29)

• Law (Matthew 5:19) vs. Grace (Romans 6:14)

Now observe these two doctrinal categories. They seem to be contradicting but they are not. All we have to do is to place them to whom they are written to, and to place them in its proper dispensational period. In other words, is to rightly divide the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15).

In one's place of employment, all employees do not have the same job to do; often different tasks are assigned to different people to get a particular job accomplished. It is the same with God's plan and purpose for the heaven and the earth. God is using different people, with different jobs (tasks) to accomplish His will.

Are you doing what you have been instructed to do as a member of the body of Christ or are you trying to do someone else's job?

With every comparison, Christians should more fully recognize that we are living in the greatest period of time ever. God lives in us (Eph. 2:22) and nothing can separate us from Him (Rom. 8:35-39). We have an absolute authority (AV 1611 King James Bible) and an absolute guide (the Holy Spirit) and an absolute faith (the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ).

As what Dr. Peter S. Ruckman said; “Every Heresy in this age, every theological lie in this age, every religious lie in this age is the Truth misplaced.”

Evangelist Rodgie Quirante

The Workman's Treasure Study Series